She’ll always be your girl. Whether your daughter is still small or all grown up, she holds a special place in her dad’s heart forever. Today, celebrate the gifts and blessings of the unique relationship between fathers and their girls with this inspirational book by family counselor and widely acclaimed parenting expert Dr. James Dobson. Based on the New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Girls , Dads and Daughters is a beautiful tribute to a dad’s role in his daughter’s life. It’s an insightful collection of wisdom for fathers on developing and preserving a truly exceptional connection with their daughters. And it’s a joyful celebration of the lifelong bond of love they share. Filled with full-color photos and timeless wisdom, this Christian fatherhood book offers practical advice on: How to instill confidence in your daughter and affirm her self-worth - Connecting with her during every stage, whether she’s a young girl or a teen - Using love and respect to guide defiant children Perfect for new dads and fathers of adult children alike, this book provides encouragement for one of the most important jobs you’ll ever have―raising your precious girl. She’ll always be your girl. . . . Whether your daughter is still small or all grown up, she holds a special place in her dad’s heart forever. Today, celebrate the gifts and blessings of the unique relationship between dads and their girls with this inspirational book by family counselor and widely acclaimed parenting expert Dr. James Dobson. Based on the New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Girls, Dads & Daughters is a beautiful tribute to a dad’s role in his daughter’s life. It’s an insightful collection of wisdom for dads on developing and preserving a truly exceptional connection with their daughters. And it’s a joyful celebration of the lifelong bond of love they share. DADS & DAUGHTERS Timeless wisdom and reflections on teaching, guiding, and loving your daughter—her whole life long By JAMES DOBSON Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2013 James C. Dobson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4143-8822-9 Contents From One Dad's Heart to Another, 6, What It Means to Be a Dad, 10, Dads Hold the Keys, 14, She Urgently Needs You, 18, Fight for Your Daughter, 22, Every Little Girl, 26, A Place in Your Heart, 30, The Power of Conversation, 34, The Art of Conversation, 38, When the Fireworks Begin, 44, When the Sky Seems to Be Falling, 50, The Power of Touch, 56, Knock Down Barriers, Build Bridges, 60, Give the Love Only You Can Give, 64, Why Dads Matter, 68, Does She Know She's Your Princess?, 72, Be There for Her, 76, Discipline with Love and Respect, 80, Win the Battle of Wills, 88, Friends and Bullies, 92, Your Most Significant Responsibility, 98, Teach Your Daughter Well, 102, Give Her the Divine Source of Wisdom, 106, The Power of Prayer, 110, She Is Worth the Sacrifice, 114, Every Dad Has Some Regrets, 118, Remember, Dads, 122, Endnotes, 126, CHAPTER 1 From One Dad's Heart TO ANOTHER The passion I feel for the subject at hand is related to the daughter who still calls me Dad. Danae is grown now, but I love her like I did when we were first introduced in the delivery room. Something electric occurred between us on that mystical night, and it endures today. I thank God for the privilege of being the father of this remarkable woman! Being a father and a type A personality myself, I look back on my parenting experiences and recall instances where I could have done a better job. I wish I could relive some of those busy days at a slower pace. Unfortunately, none of us is allowed do-overs or mulligans. When our record is finally in the books, not a word or a deed can be altered. Would it be self-serving to tell you that I also did some things right during my early days as a father, and that the memories of some very special times with my kids rank at the top of my list of accomplishments today? Among my favorites are recollections of Danae when she was five years old. We used to take bike trips together to a nearby park on Saturday mornings and play in a sandbox with shovels and buckets. I taught her to build sand castles, explained what a moat and a drawbridge were, and talked about anything else that seemed to interest her. Then we would go to a nearby taco stand and have lunch before riding home. On the way back, we listened every week to a favorite recording of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella on a small Craig recorder, and we sang the songs together. Danae loved those outings, and she can tell you in detail about them today. And guess what? I loved them too. From where I sit today, I can say that nothing, and I mean nothing, from that era turned out to be more significant than the hours I spent with my little family. The relationships we enjoy today were nurtured during those years when it would have been very easy for me to chase every professional prize and ignore what matter